






Japan: Cherry Blossoms and Snow Monkeys
Trip Overview: Cherry Blossoms & Snow Monkeys
Walk beneath canopies of fleeting pink, soak in ancient onsens, and witness snow monkeys in steaming alpine springs—this is Japan at its most poetic. World Untouched has timed this journey to catch the country’s seasonal soul: the cherry blossoms at peak bloom, sacred mountains still dusted with snow, and cultural rituals unfolding with quiet grace.
You’ll wander Kyoto’s golden temples, ride the sleek Shinkansen through valleys and cities, photograph Mount Fuji at sunrise, and soak beside cedar forests in hidden mountain inns. From the mystical trails of Koyasan to the surreal charm of Jigokudani, this is an immersive passage through Japan’s spiritual and seasonal rhythms—part pilgrimage, part dream.
Itinerary at a Glance
Day 1: Tea, Temples & Neon Nights in Osaka
Arrive in Japan’s street-food capital. Settle in and experience the vibrant blend of old-world temples and glowing city lights.
Day 2: Into the Sacred Kii Mountains and Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage
Journey into the forested Kii Peninsula to begin tracing Japan’s most ancient pilgrimage routes.
Day 3: Koya-San – Forest Temples and Japan’s Holiest Mountain
Sleep in a working Buddhist temple atop Mt. Koya. Lantern-lit cemeteries and sacred silence await.
Day 4: Kyoto – Golden Temples, Sacred Deer & the World of the Geisha
Explore Kyoto’s iconic temples, meet the deer of Nara, and step into Gion’s timeless streets.
Day 5: Kyoto – Bamboo Forest, Sacred Gates & Soba by Hand
Wander through Arashiyama’s Bamboo Grove, visit Fushimi Inari’s thousand gates, and learn to craft soba noodles by hand.
Day 6: Shinkansen to Jigokudani – Snow Monkeys & Private Onsen Bliss
Ride Japan’s bullet train to the mountains. Settle into your traditional ryokan and soak in a private forest onsen.
Day 7: Jigokudani – Snow Monkeys, Obuse Charm & Sacred Mountain Trails
Photograph macaques bathing in steaming springs, visit the historic artist town of Obuse, and hike alpine temple trails.
Day 8: Fuji-san – Sacred Peaks & Still Reflections
Travel to the Fuji Five Lakes region. Capture mirror-like reflections of Japan’s most iconic mountain.
Day 9: Fuji-san – Sunrise at Chureito Pagoda & the Fuji Five Lakes
Wake early to witness sunrise at Chureito Pagoda with Mount Fuji framed by cherry blossoms in full bloom.
Day 10: Tokyo – Asakusa Temples & Kabuki Night
Arrive in Tokyo and explore its ancient and modern sides. Visit Asakusa’s historic temples and enjoy a night of Kabuki theater.
Day 11: In Tokyo – Tsukiji Market, Meiji Shrine & Shibuya Crossing
Savor local flavors at Tokyo’s famed seafood market, walk forested shrine paths, and experience the world’s busiest pedestrian scramble.
Day 12: Farewell Japan – One Last Morning in the Land of the Rising Sun
Enjoy a quiet moment before departure—one last walk, one final meal, or a peaceful breath beneath the cherry trees.
Trip Highlights
Walk beneath blooming cherry blossoms at their breathtaking peak
Photograph wild snow monkeys in steaming alpine hot springs
Sleep in a mountaintop Buddhist temple on sacred Koya-san
Ride Japan’s legendary Shinkansen through shifting landscapes
Explore ancient pilgrim trails, bamboo forests, and moss-covered shrines
Soak in traditional onsens surrounded by cedar and silence
Dine with intention—from handmade soba to multi-course kaiseki
Witness sunrise over Mount Fuji from the iconic Chureito Pagoda
Trip Overview: Cherry Blossoms & Snow Monkeys
Walk beneath canopies of fleeting pink, soak in ancient onsens, and witness snow monkeys in steaming alpine springs—this is Japan at its most poetic. World Untouched has timed this journey to catch the country’s seasonal soul: the cherry blossoms at peak bloom, sacred mountains still dusted with snow, and cultural rituals unfolding with quiet grace.
You’ll wander Kyoto’s golden temples, ride the sleek Shinkansen through valleys and cities, photograph Mount Fuji at sunrise, and soak beside cedar forests in hidden mountain inns. From the mystical trails of Koyasan to the surreal charm of Jigokudani, this is an immersive passage through Japan’s spiritual and seasonal rhythms—part pilgrimage, part dream.
Itinerary at a Glance
Day 1: Tea, Temples & Neon Nights in Osaka
Arrive in Japan’s street-food capital. Settle in and experience the vibrant blend of old-world temples and glowing city lights.
Day 2: Into the Sacred Kii Mountains and Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage
Journey into the forested Kii Peninsula to begin tracing Japan’s most ancient pilgrimage routes.
Day 3: Koya-San – Forest Temples and Japan’s Holiest Mountain
Sleep in a working Buddhist temple atop Mt. Koya. Lantern-lit cemeteries and sacred silence await.
Day 4: Kyoto – Golden Temples, Sacred Deer & the World of the Geisha
Explore Kyoto’s iconic temples, meet the deer of Nara, and step into Gion’s timeless streets.
Day 5: Kyoto – Bamboo Forest, Sacred Gates & Soba by Hand
Wander through Arashiyama’s Bamboo Grove, visit Fushimi Inari’s thousand gates, and learn to craft soba noodles by hand.
Day 6: Shinkansen to Jigokudani – Snow Monkeys & Private Onsen Bliss
Ride Japan’s bullet train to the mountains. Settle into your traditional ryokan and soak in a private forest onsen.
Day 7: Jigokudani – Snow Monkeys, Obuse Charm & Sacred Mountain Trails
Photograph macaques bathing in steaming springs, visit the historic artist town of Obuse, and hike alpine temple trails.
Day 8: Fuji-san – Sacred Peaks & Still Reflections
Travel to the Fuji Five Lakes region. Capture mirror-like reflections of Japan’s most iconic mountain.
Day 9: Fuji-san – Sunrise at Chureito Pagoda & the Fuji Five Lakes
Wake early to witness sunrise at Chureito Pagoda with Mount Fuji framed by cherry blossoms in full bloom.
Day 10: Tokyo – Asakusa Temples & Kabuki Night
Arrive in Tokyo and explore its ancient and modern sides. Visit Asakusa’s historic temples and enjoy a night of Kabuki theater.
Day 11: In Tokyo – Tsukiji Market, Meiji Shrine & Shibuya Crossing
Savor local flavors at Tokyo’s famed seafood market, walk forested shrine paths, and experience the world’s busiest pedestrian scramble.
Day 12: Farewell Japan – One Last Morning in the Land of the Rising Sun
Enjoy a quiet moment before departure—one last walk, one final meal, or a peaceful breath beneath the cherry trees.
Trip Highlights
Walk beneath blooming cherry blossoms at their breathtaking peak
Photograph wild snow monkeys in steaming alpine hot springs
Sleep in a mountaintop Buddhist temple on sacred Koya-san
Ride Japan’s legendary Shinkansen through shifting landscapes
Explore ancient pilgrim trails, bamboo forests, and moss-covered shrines
Soak in traditional onsens surrounded by cedar and silence
Dine with intention—from handmade soba to multi-course kaiseki
Witness sunrise over Mount Fuji from the iconic Chureito Pagoda